In the second Toews added his hat trick, eventually capitalizing on a turnover, while Patrick Sharp added a fourth on a short-handed break away.

Despite his performance, the four goals didn’t do much for his goals-against average, which is hovering near the 4.00 mark on the season.

“He’s playing well. He’s giving us a chance, at least when we start well, to go do something about it,” Renney said. “The bottom line is that we need to be much, much better in front of him. The best way to protect your goaltender is to adapt, forecheck, keep the puck in the other end, minimize the chances against, never mind just the shots against. And we haven’t been able to do that on a regular basis.

“We have to take responsibility for whatever those numbers (goals against average) might reflect, 23 people have to look at that.”